CDC Performance and Race Club UK Social Media Policy
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What is Social Media?
Social media is a popular and constantly evolving form of online communication that allows millions of people to take part in online communities, generate content and discussion and to share information with others. Online users of social media sites can now access interactive services across a multitude of platforms and devices. CDC Performance and Race Club UK (“CDC”) promotes the use of social media by its members to promote the Club, but the Committee is conscious that issues can arise through the use of social media, which can directly affect the reputation of the Club and its members.
What are the issues?
Using social media sites and on-line forums can be fun, constructive and positive for the person(s) posting the communications or those reading the communications. However, the use of negative comments about a person(s) or another club, the posting of inappropriate images, the use of bullying language towards a person(s), direct criticism of a person(s) or sexist / racist remarks can all be extremely harmful to the parties involved. It is also the case that the reputation and the image of CDC could be adversely affected. Other third parties (who may or may not be club members) may also become upset or distressed if they view such communications which relates to their club, a personal friend or a fellow club member.Position of CDC Performance and Race Club UK
Whilst the committee of the club does not seek to control or actively monitor what our club members do online via social media outlets, the committee does expect all of its club members, athletes and parents to conduct themselves appropriately on social media sites when making comments, remarks, or allegations which involve CDC other club members, other Clubs, members of other clubs or spectators.The committee has a responsibility to ensure that it safeguards all of its members both on and off the hill. It is paramount that all our coaches, club officials, volunteers and others in a position of trust act responsibly when they are representing or communicating about CDC and this includes promoting the acceptable use of social media. If coaches, club officials, volunteers and others in a position of trust fail to adhere to this requirement, or openly do not wish to conform to this requirement, then the committee will review their positions within the club.
This policy aims to provide guidance and advice to all club members on social media, how the committee intends to control social media issues on its own sites and also what guidelines the committee will use when monitoring social media communications on other non-club sites.
Communications posted directly onto CDC Performance and Race Club UK Social Media sites
The Club will use its social media sites as a positive outlet to promote the club, its members and athletes, athletes’ performances, other clubs and other individuals involved in snowsport. Posting results and acknowledging performances on social media makes many people aware of achievements involving members of the Club. By doing this, the Club’s own Social Media pages can have a positive effect on many people - similar usage by all Club members on their own social media sites is encouraged by the Committee.
The nominated administrators of the Club’s own social media sites will identify all copyrighted or borrowed material with citations and links listed where appropriate. Members of the Club and other non-members posting directly into the Club’s pages should, when publishing direct paraphrased quotes, thoughts, ideas, photos or videos also give credit to the original publisher or author.
The Committee will review all online posts made directly to its social media sites before they are published online and resolve any concerns about the nature of posts/communications by Club members or other third parties directly with the parties involved. If a message or post is not published, a reason for doing so will be given. Nominated administrators will monitor the Club’s own social networking pages regularly and will remove all access (viewing and posting) from anyone who was behaving inappropriately on the clubs pages. Any Club member can ask the Committee who the administrators are at any time, bearing in mind however that these administrators are likely to change from time to time.
If a person(s) posts or attempts to post an inaccurate, inflammatory or unjustified negative comment about or of anyone associated with the Club directly onto the Club’s social media pages, the Committee will challenge these comments directly with the parties involved. If the poster uses inappropriate or offensive language, the poster will be removed from further accessing any of the Club’s sites immediately. Any hostile, harassing or discriminatory communications based on a person’s race, sex, gender identity, national origin, colour, disability, age sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, religion or any other status protected by law will not be permitted on any of the Club’s social media sites and the poster will be immediately blocked from using any of the Club’s social media sites and details passed on to SnowSport England for any action they deem necessary.
The nominated administrators of the Club’s own social media sites will ensure that all the privacy settings on its social media sites are secure so that the page(s) are not used as a place to meet, share personal details or to have private conversations.
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Communications by Club members on private social media pages​
The Committee strongly recommends that all its members should not use their private pages to social media to publish negative comments or pictures about a) CDC, b) Club members/athletes, coaches or volunteers, c) Members, participants, coaches or officials of other snowsport clubs, d) Spectators.
All Club members should be fully aware that any comment or communication that they make on any social media site has the potential to be seen by millions of people. If that communication is positive then it’s likely that little harm will be caused. However, if the content is critical of a person(s) or other Club then it could cause offense for the parties involved. If you would not wish to read the communication, which you are posting, in the context of yourself, then do not post it.
The Committee strongly recommends to all Club members that when posting online regarding matters relating to other Club members, other Clubs and its members – communications must avoid hostile, harassing or discriminatory communications based on a person’s race, sex, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, religion or any other status protected by law. Whilst posts of such a nature will not be permitted on the Club’s own social media sites, communications by Club members on other personal or private sites which are considered to be hostile, harassing or discriminatory about either the Club or another Club member will be investigated further at the discretion of the Committee and the appropriate parties contacted. Any hostile, harassing or discriminatory communications about the Club, a Club member, other snowsport Clubs or other members of any other snowsport Clubs will be passed to Snowsport England for them to consider further and could result in exclusion from the Club for the person(s) involved.
The Committee strongly wishes to remind all Club members that their actions on social media could have serious consequences for others and for the reputation of CDC. Posting negative comments and images, making bullying, adverse criticism or sexist remarks on either the Club’s own social media pages, on own private pages or on friends’ pages does not only impact negatively on the people they are about – but it also affects those who read the communications, and those who are made aware of them.The Committee strongly wishes to remind all Club members that they should always assume the person(s) or Club which they are communicating about will ultimately see what has been written about them. An online communication between two people does not mean it remains private and nobody else can see. Social media is accessible to everyone. In addition to this, even if the person(s) or Club you are discussing does not see it directly, somebody else may, and the end result would be that it’s you, rather than the person you are communicating about that would ultimately be seen in a negative light by others for posting inappropriate comments.
The Committee is strongly of the view that its Club members should not tolerate or condone poor social media behaviour or actions and that they have a role to play in ensuring that inappropriate comments are not posted online which affects the Club, other Club members or members of other clubs. If you are aware of, or observe poor social media behaviour or actions which you think are unacceptable, Club members should remind those posters of their responsibilities when using social media – if you consider it appropriate to do so. If you believe any communication to be hostile, harassing or discriminatory it should be reported to the Committee as soon as possible with evidence of the material which has been posted. The Committee will move to investigate the matter further – and consult with Snowsport England if it considers it appropriate to do so.The Committee strongly recommends that all its Club members, when using social media sites, show the same respect and regard for other people/other Clubs that you would show when participating, coaching, officiating or volunteering on behalf of CDC. If you’re unsure if what you’re posting on your own private social media page(s) or someone else’s is appropriate (or not), then it is simply best not to post it - if in doubt, leave it out.
Communications related to AND / or its Club members made by non-club members on social media sites
Unfortunately, the Committee has little direct control over non-members posting inaccurate, unjustified, hostile, harassing or discriminatory communications about the Club, Club members, other snowsport Clubs or other members of any other snowsport Club. With measures in place across all the Club’s own social media pages to ensure that all communications are reviewed before being published, such material should not appear on the Club’s own social media sites. If however, for any reason such communications are posted, it will be removed immediately and the party posting will be contacted by the Club and asked to explain their comments. If the communication is made on a private page of a non-Club member, and a Club member considers it to be serious enough, it should be brought to the attention of the Committee. Communications affecting Children, Young People and Adults at RiskRisks to Children, Young People and Adults at RiskWhen social media is not used correctly, it can pose a risk to all of those involved and in some cases cause harm to individuals and others. Whilst the majority of adults can deal with matters in a reasoned manner, it can often be difficult for some children, young people and adults with learning difficulties to fully understand the issues involved and how best they can deal with issues which can arise from online posts. Online risks for children, young people and adults at risk can be classified into the 3C’s: Content – where children are the receivers of harmful content, for example receiving a spam email which links them to pornography or racist, homophobic or other abusive or offensive content; Contact – where children come into contact with people who may want to harm them, for example an adult talking to a child on a chat site and trying to arrange a meeting for sexual purposes or people who are trying to identify individuals to bully or troll; Conduct – this is when children behave inappropriately online and may cause harm, for example, uploading an indecent image of one of their peers, which leads to them being bullied, or uploading a video or image which incites hatred or violence towards an individual or group.
The main online risks in relation to children and young adults can be categorised into four areas:
Inappropriate images, language or behaviour.
Children and young people may come across images online which may be harmful and distressing. Social media houses images such as pornography, violence, crime and other still and moving images which may impact on the child. Children and young people may be sent such images, search for them or create images thus making all 3C’s mentioned above part of this category. Children state that seeing inappropriate images has the most profound effect on them and unfortunately such images are easily accessible across the online network. It is unacceptable for any Club member to send or post inappropriate images to any child or young persons. It is unacceptable for any Club member to use inappropriate language or behaviour towards a child or young person. Any instances of either by a Club member must be reported to the Club’s Welfare Officer immediately for further action to be taken.
Sexting
This is when a child or young person sends a sexual message or image of themselves or others to one or more people. Research suggests 1 in 4 young people have sent a ‘sext’, and the impact of such images can be very damaging for the child or young people and lead to serious bullying and other emotional and physical impacts. Anyone under the age of 18 may be prosecuted for ‘sexting’ under the offence of either creating, distributing or having possession of an indecent image of a child. If the child or young person is found guilty they may also be placed on the Sex Offenders Register and this may affect their future career. If any Club member is aware of any ‘sexting’ incident they should inform Snowsport England’s Designated Safeguarding Lead as soon as possible and inform the Club’s Welfare Officer that they have done so.
Online Grooming
This is where an adult (someone over the age of 18) uses the internet and social media to befriend and entrust a child or young person for future sexual abuse, image production or exposure. Children or young people may befriend someone online and that person may use sexual language with the child and also send gifts or pretend they are in a relationship with the child. As with other abuse, the signs and indicators are similar, however with online grooming there are some specific indicators including: children having lots of new gifts not brought by family members; children being picked up by different people (who the family do not know) in cars; children saying they are dating someone they met online and it is apparent the person is older; children being on dating sites. If any Club member is aware of any grooming incident, they should inform Snowsport England’s Designated Safeguarding Lead immediately to seek further advice on the best course of action and inform the Club’s Welfare Officer that they have done so.
Cyberbullying
The use of electronic and digital media to scare, harass or intimidate a child, young adult or adult at risk club member is unacceptable. However if the cyberbullying is taking place by a club member it should be reported to the Committee so that further action can be taken if necessary.Name of club: CDC Performance and Race Club UK
Last Updated:June 2025
Next Review:June 2026
